Cigarette-machine.



E. D. SMITH.

CIGARETTE MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED nmso, 1912.

Patented Mar. 24, 191i 6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

. 52:25:: viii-5:2

w amaam E. D. SMITH.

GIGARETTE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1912.

Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. D. SMITH.

CIGARETTE MACHINE. APPLIGATION FILED DEC. 30, 1912.

Patented M21124, 1m

6 SHEETS"SHEET 3.

[NQQflOW E. D. SMITH.

CIGARETTE MAOHINE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1912.

Patented Mar. 24, 191 1 6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1 TWWW.

E. D. SMITH.

CIGARETTE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.30, 1912.

Patented Mar. 24, 191 1 6 SHEETSSHEET 5.

E. D. SMITH.

CIGARETTE MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED DEO.30,1912.

Patented Mar. 24,1914.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

an a\ lnvenzf qr ELBERON D. SMITH, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A$SIGNOR T0 AMERICAN MACHINE 8:; FOUNDRY COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

' CIGARETTE-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mara-24L 191%.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELBERON D. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cigarette-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention re ates to an improvement in cigarette machines of the continuous rod type, and its main object is the prod i of a machine capable of operation at a higher speed than has been heretofore possible and which produces better cigarettes than it-has been heretofore possible to make.

A further object-of the invention is the production of a high speed cigarette machine in which the various mechanisms are relatively adjustable while the machine is in operation so that no time is lost in stopping the machine to make adjustments, and consequently the efiiciency of the machine is increased.

A further object of the invention is the production of a machine having means for guiding a shower of tobacco upon traveling paper and also having means for incasing the tobacco in the paper without disturbing it after it falls upon the paper except to form it into a continuous rod.

A further object of the invention is the production of a device of the character above mentioned which is provided with means for cutting the formed rod into individual cigarettes and means for controlling the operation of the cutting means to com-j pensate for any irregularity in the opera tion of the incasing means due to slippage of the cigarette rod in the rod forming mechanism or to other causes.

Still another object is the production of a machine of the character above mentioned provided with a mechanism for marking the paper and with means for regulating the position of the cut with respect to the position of the marking on the paper without interrupting the operation of the machine.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the'invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described. and then specifically set forth in the cla'imst h'ereunto appended.

In I the accompanying drawings which form 'aipart of this specification and in which like characters of'reference indicate the same or like parts, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively plan and side elevation of the right or feed end of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fi 3 and 4 are respectively plan and side eldvations of the left or finishing end of the ma' chine partially illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5 in Fig. 2 and illustrating the driving mechanism for the feed endof the machine. And Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 6 in Fig. 4 and illustrating the driving mechanism for the left or finishing end of the machine.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided means for guiding a shower of tobacco upon traveling paper and means for incasing the tobacco in the paper, and these means mayvary in construction within wide limits. In the best constructions, there is also provided mean for marking the paper before it receives the tobacco, means for cutting in incased tobacco into individual cigarettes, and means for controlling the position of the cut with respect to the mark upon the paper, and these means may also vary in construction within wide limits.

The device selected to illustrate the invention is a high speed cigarette machine.

of the continuous rodv type in which the paper to form the wrapper of the cigarette is led from a reel through a suitable printing mechanism; thence through a runway where tobacco is showered upon it; thence to rod forming and pasting Ir echanisms which operate to incase the tobacco in the paper; thence to a rod sealing device; and finally to a cut-off mechanism which separates the formed rod into individual cigarettes. The machine is also provided with a cigarette opening device to which defective rigai'ettes may be fed and the wrapper separated from the tobacco before the latter be comes dr Referrlng to the drawings, 1 indicates a bed adapted to support the various mechanisms of the machine. This bed is sup ported upon legs 2. At the extreme right or feed end of the machine (see Figs. 1, and 2) there is mounted a bracket 3 which serves to support a printing mechanism 4 of the Well-known two-color type. The printin mechanism 4 is provided with a pair of inii runs over a guide roller 17 located ad acent:-

reservoirs 5, one for each color, and with a pair of ink distributing mechanisms gener-' ally indicated'at 6. The printing mechanism is further provided with dies 7 adapted. to transfer ink from the distributing mechanisms to a strip of paper marked 8, which strip of paper runs over a wheel 9 mounted in the printing mechanism. The printing mechanism is further provided with a bronzing device indicated generally at 10. The strip of paper 8 comes from a reel 11 mounted upon .a standard 12 rising from the printing mechanism. The various arts of the printing mechanism are driven y a train of gearing generally indicatedat 13, the prime mover of the .train being fast upon a shaft 14 j ournaled in the bracket 3 before referred to. This shaft 14 is provided with a worm wheel engaging a worm 15 which worm is fast upon ashaft 16 which is the main shaft of the machine.

The mechanism so far described is old and well known in the art and a more detailed description thereof being unnecessary to a full understanding of the present invention is omitted.

From the printing mechanism the paper the printing mechanism and supported by, a bracket 18, which in turn is bolted .to a second bracket 19 secured to the bed 1 of the machine. This guide roller is adapted to change the line of travel of the printed paper. stationary runwa for the paper which is in alinement with tv e upper periphery of the guide roller 17 before referred to. This run- 'way' is provided with side Walls 20, 20 which operate to guide theedges of the paper as it passes along therunway, and which further operate toguide a shower of tobacco upon the paper as it passes through the runway, the shower coming through a chute indicated by the broken lines 21. This chute may be a part of a hand feed device ormay be a part of an automatic feed device, but in either case it operates to deliver the tobacco in a shower within guiding walls of the runway. The walls 20 are pivotally mounted upon pintles 22 so that they may be swung in and out of o erative position and the guide walls are eld-in operative position by means of locking screw 23. As the tobacco u on the paper passes to the delivery end of t e runway, it Is slightly compressed T by a wheel 24 mounted upon a shaft 25 journaled in an adjustable bracket 26 which is carried by a bracket 27 rising from the bed 1. The shaft 25 i provided with a gear 28 in mesh with a gear 29 which gear is fast upon a shaft 30 journaled in the bracket 27 before referred to. This shaft 30 derives its motion by means of spiral gears 31 from an upright shaft 32 journaled in uitable bearings in the bed 1, The lower end of the The bracket 19 is shaped to form a shaft 32 carries a beveled gear 33 which is inmesh with a beveled pinion 34 which is fast upon the main shaft 16 of the machine. From the delivery end of the runway the paper carrying the tobacco passes acros a bridge 35 which is supported by a bracket 36 rising from the bed 1. This bridge may be adjusted by means of an adjusting screw 37. From the runway and bridge the paper carrying the tobacco passes to an incasmg mechanism of the tubular type and generally indicated at 38. This incasing mechanism operates to curl the paper up around the tobacco and overlap its opposite edges in a manner well known in the art.

The mechanism just described forms the ubject matter of my co-pe'nding application,

Serial No. 723830, and reference is made tov said application for a full disclosure of all the details of this mechanism.

In connection with the incasing mechanism there is provided a pastingmechanism indicated generally -at 39. This pasting mechanism includes a feed wheel driven by a pair of beveled gears 40, one of which is mounted upon a vertical shaft 41 journaled .in suitable hearings in the bed 1. The lower end of this shaft carries a pinion 42 which is in mesh with a spur gear 43 journaled upon a stud 44 mounted in the lower part of the bed 1.. The gear 43 is secured to and operated by a worm wheel 45 which is in mesh with a worm 46 fast upon the main shaft 16 before referred to. The pasting device belt 51 running over a pulley 52 which is fast upon a shaft 53, which shaft is journaled in a bearing 54 forming a part of the bed 1;

This shaft 53 carries upon its inner end a worm wheel 55 which is in mesh with a worm 5-6 fast on the main shaft 16 before referred' to. 57 journaled on a stud 58 secured to the front side of the bed 1. The belt- 51 also runs over a tightening mechanism of wellknown construction and indicated at 59. It is to be understood that this belt runs The belt 51 runs over an idler through the rod forming mechanism and operates to produce the incasing action of the paper around the cigarette rod.

From the rod forming mechanism the formed rod goes to a rod sealing device including a traveling belt 60'Which runs over pulleys 61 and 62 and under a guide plate 63 which serves to hold the belt in contact with the pasted seam. The pulley 62 is mounted upon a shaft 64 which is provided with a friction wheel 65. This friction wheel is in constant contact with a friction driving wheel 66 which driving wheel is mounted upon a shaft 67 suitably journaled in a bracket 68. The pulley 61 is fast upon the short shaft 69 and the shafts 64 and 69,

are journaled in a bracket 70 which bracket is pivoted upon the shaft 67 before referred to. This construction permits movement of the belt and its operating connections up and away from the cigarette rod. There is further provided an adjusting screw 71 the function of which is to adjust the position of the bracket 70.wit-h respect to the cigarette rod so that any desired pressure upon the seam within the limits of the device may be effected. The shaft 67 is provided with a pulley 72 over which runs a belt 73 which derives its motion from a pulley 74 fast upon a shaft 75 which shaft is journaled in brackets 76 and 77 rising from the bed 1.

' The rod sealing device just described forms the subject matter of my Patent No. 1,084,044, and reference is made thereto for a full disclosure in detail of this mechanism. The shaft 75 is provided with a pulley 78 over which runs a belt 79, which belt also runs over a cone clutch member 80 loose upon a shaft 81, which shaft is mounted in bearings 82 and 83 formed in a bracket extended from the side of the bed 1. The cone clutch member 80 is adapted for engagement with a cone clutch member 84 fast upon the shaft 81 and adapted to be driven by a belt from any suitable source of power. The clutch member 80 is thrown in and out of engagement with the clutch member 84 by means of a forked lever 85 of well-known construction. The shaft '81 supports a gear 86 loosely mounted thereon and this gear is in mesh with the second gear 87 which is fast upon a countershaft 88. This countershaft is journaled in bearings 89 and 90. The shaft 88 carries a second ear 91 which is in mesh with a gear 92 ast upon the main shaft 16 of the machine before referred to. The shaft 81 further carries a crown clutch 93 adapted for intermittent engagement with a cooperating crown clutch formed on the hub of the gear 86. The

crown clutch 93 is'shifted in and out of op-- the shaft 81 and carries a crown clutch memher 96. A cooperatingcrown clutch member 97 is splined upon the shaft 81 and is operated by means of a forked lever 98 of well-known construction.

From the rod sealing device the formed and sealed rod is delivered to a cut-off mechanism which operates to cut the formed and sealed rod into individual cigarettes. This cutoff mechanism includes a rotating knife 99 which cooperates with a ledger plate 100, the ledger plate being formed on the end of a tubular guide 101 through which the cigarette rod passes. The rotating knife 99 is fixed upon a shaft 102 journaled in bearings 103, 104 formed in the bracket 105. The shaft 102 carries a pulley 106 over which runs a belt 107 deriving its motion from a pulley fast on the shaft 75 before referred to. The bracket 105 is journaled on pivots 109 and has an arm 110 extending rearwardly from the axis of the pivots. This arm is connected by means of a link 111 with one end of a lever 112. The other end of the lever 112 carries a bowl 113 engaging the under side of a cam wheel 114 which is mounted upon the upper end of a shaft 115 journaled in suitable bearings in a bracket 116- bolted to a movable table 117 mounted in suitable slideway in the bed of the machine. The shaft 115 carries on its lower end a beveled gear 118 which is in mesh with another beveled gear 119. The beveled gear 119 is fast upon one end of a short shaft 120 journaled in the bracket 116 before referred to. The other end of the shaft 120 carries a spur gear 121 in mesh with a broad faced spur gear 122 fast upon the main shaft 16 of the machine. The mechanism just described operates to raise and lower the revolving knife 99 into and out ofthe path of movement of the cigarette rod through the guide 101 and ledger plate 100. The cam wheel 114 is provided with an adjustable crank pin 123, and connected with this crank pin is a link 124 which is also connected with a carriage 125 slidable on a suitable slideway 126 mounted upon the table 117 before referred to. The carriage 125 is provided with uprights 127 which support the pivots 109 before referred to.

Located at the rear side of the table 117 is a vertically adjustable screw 128 which carries a stud 129 upon which the lever 112 is fulcrumed. By means of this screw 128 the revolving knife 99 may be adjusted for wear. The carriage 125 also carries a creasing mechanism indicated generally at 130. The table 117 has depending therefrom a bracket 131 through which is threaded an adjusting screw 132 which is operated by means of a hand wheel 133 at the end of the machine. This mechanism is for the pur pose of adjusting the cut-off mechanism as awhole with respect to the rod forming mechanism and with respect to the imprint madeupon the paper by the printing mechanism.

The cut-off mechanism just described forms the subject matter of my Patent No.

1,075,274, and reference is made thereto for a full disclosure of this mechanism in detail.

From the cut-ofi' and creasing mechanism the individual cigarettes are pushed across a bridge 134 and fail upon a collector belt 135 of well-known construction. This belt is operated in well-known manner by means of a train of gearing generally indicated at 136, this train of gearing deriving its motion from a spur gear 137 fast upon the end of the main shaft 16 outside of the bed 1. Since this collector mechanism lies wholly outside of the present invention and is not necessary to an understanding thereof, a more detailed description thereof is omitted in the interest of brevity and clearness.

It sometimes happens that a wrapper is torn or disfigured and is therefore rejected. In order that the tobacco contained in the defective cigarettes may be immediately reused before it becomes dry and unfit for use, the machine is provided with a cigarette opening device adapted to slit defective cigarettes and separate the tobacco from the paper Wrapper. This device is located on the front of=the machine at the delivery end and is indicated generally by the character 138. Cooperating with the cigarette open ing device is a chute 139 mounted adjacent.

the front end of the collector belt135. Defective cigarettes are taken from the collector belt 135 and deposited in the chute 139 which, in turn, delivers them to the hop per 140 of the opening device 138. This cigarette opening device is fully illustrated and described-in my co-pending application,

Serial No. 732222, and reference is made thereto for a full disclosure of the device in detaiL- It may be'h'ere remarked, however, that the various'moving parts of the cigarette opening device derive their motion from a gear 141 fast upon a shaft 142, which shaft is journaled in bearings in the bed 1 and vprojects beyond the rear side thereof. The projecting end of the shaft 142 carries a bev-v eled gear 143 which is in mesh with the train of gearing 136 and'which also operates thecollector belt 135. For the purpose of catching and separatingthe tobacco and wrappers of defective cigarettes passing through the cigarette opening device, there is pro vided an open-topbox 144 having a screen 145 fitted in the open top. This box is located at the delivery end of the cigarette opening device so that the opened cigarettes fall upon the screen 145 which retains the wrappers but permits the tobacco to fall through into the box. The box is further provided with a drawer 146 adapted to collect the tobacco falling through the screen 145. It will be readily understood that the drawer may be taken out at any time and the tobacco emptied therefrom and re-used before itbecomes dry and unfit for use.

Tn view of the foregoing a detailed dcdeemed unnecessary and is therefore omitted in the interest of brevity.

Changes and variations maybe made in the structure by means of which the invention is carried into effect The invention, 'therefore,'is not to be restricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigarette machine, the combination with means for guiding a shower of tobacco upon a strip of paper traveling in the direction of its length, of means for incasing the tooacco in the paper to form a cigarette rod, means for cutting the rod into individual cigarettes, and means operative while the machine is running for controlling the operation of the cutting means to compensate for any irregularity in the operation of the incasing means.

2. In a cigarette machine, the combination with means for marking a strip of paper traveling in the direction of its length, of means Ior guiding a shower of tobacco upon the traveling paper, means for incasing the tobacco in the paper to form a cigarette rod,

means for cutting the rod into individual cigarettes, and means operative while the machine is running for controlling the operation of the cutting means to regulate the position of the cut with respect to the position I, .e marking on the paper.

3. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a rod forming mechanism adapted to draw a strip of wrapper paper through the printing mechanism, means for guiding a shower of tobacco upon the paper between the printing mechanism and the rod forming mechanism, a rod sealing device to which the rod forming mechanism delivers a formed rod, and means operative while the machine is running for varying the relative speeds of the rod forming mechanism and the sealing device. 2

4. In a cigarette machine, the combination --with a printing mechanism, of a rod'forming mechanism adapted to draw a strip of wrapper paper through the printingmechanisnn nean's for guiding a shower of tobacco upon the paper between the printing mechanism and the rod forming mechanism,

a rod sealing device to which the rod formin mechanism delivers a formed rod, and driving means for the sealing device opera tive while the machine is running and adapted to vary its speed with respect to the, speed of the rod forming mechanism.

5. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a rod forming mechanism adapted to draw a strip of wrapper-paper through the printing mechanism, means for guiding a showenof tobacco upon the paper between the printing mechanism and the rod forming mechanism, a cut-01f. mechanism to which-the rod forming mechanism.

6. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a rod forming mechanism adapted to draw a strip of wrapper paper through the printing mechanism, means for guiding a shower of tobacco upon the paper between the printing 'mechanism and the rod forming mechanism,

a. cut-off mechanism to which the rod form- 1ng mechanism delivers a formed rod, and ad usting means for the cut-off mechanism operative while the machine is running.

whereby the position of the cut may be varied with respect to the position of the imprint made upon the paper by the printin mechanism, 4

. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a rod forming mechanism adapted to draw a strip of wrapper paper through the printing mechanism, means for guiding a shower of tobacco u on the paper between the printing mechanism and the rod forming mechanism, a rod sealing device to which the rod forming mechanism delivers a formed rod, a cut-oil mechanism to which the rod sealing device delivers a formed and sealed rod, and independent adjusting. means operative while the machine is running whereby the rod seal-ing device and the cut-off mechanism are independently adjustable with respect to the rod forming mechanism.

8. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a printing mechanism, of a rod forming mechanism adapted to draw a strip of wrapper paper through the. printing mechanism, a guide roller adjacent the printing mechanism over which the paper is adapted to run, means for guiding a shower of tobacco directly upon the paper, between the guide roller and-thevrod forming" mechanism, .a rod sealing device to which the rod forming mechanism delivers a formed rod, means for varying the relative speeds of therod forming mechanism and rod sealing device, a cut-01f mechanism to which the rod sealing device delivers a formed and sealed rod, and adjusting means for the cut-off mechanism whereby the position of the cut may be varied with respect to the" position of the imprint upon the paper made by the printing mechanism.

9. In a cigarette machine, the combination with a printing mechanism, of arod forming mechanism adapted to draw a strip of wrapper paper through the printing mechanism, a guide roller adjacent the printing mechanism over which the paper is adapted to run, a stationary runway for the paper between and in alinement with the upper periphery of the guide roller and with the rod forming mechanism, said runway being adapted to actas a guide for a shower of tobacco falling upon the paper in the runway, a rod sealing device to which the rod forming mechanism delivers a formed rod, means for varying the relat've speeds of the rod forming mechanism a iid rod sealing device, a cut-off mechanism to which the rod sealing device delivers a formed and sealed rod, and adjusting means for the cut-off mechanism whereby the position of the cut may be varied with respect to the position of the imprint upon the paper made by the printing mechanism.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisspecification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELBERON D. SMITH. VVit-nesses:

SYDNEY I. Pnnoorr, FRANK H. VIcK, Jr. 

